Egan Bernal 'over-trained' going into last year’s Tour, though he won | Sticky Bottle

*Egan Bernal said preparing for the Giro and then training for the Tour was "too many kilometres" for him and was not ideal for riding Tour de France 2019, even though he won the race*

Egan Bernal has said he did too much on the bike last year before the Tour de France, adding it was not ideal preparation for the race.

Looking to the season ahead he said one of the biggest
changes for him in 2020 compared to last year would be an exclusive focus on
the Tour.

While he did not ride the Giro last year, after a crash
just before the event ruled him out, he did a lot of preparation for it.

“The biggest change will be that this year I will be
really focused on the Tour. Last year I was preparing for the Giro d’Italia and
then the Tour de France and I think I did too many kilometres,” he said.

“Maybe that’s not the ideal scenario to perform well at the Tour. So that could be the biggest change for in the next year,” he added of going all-in for the Tour only.

"It will be something special to have the number one
and try to go again for the GC. I’m really motivated and I want to come really
back and try to do well for everything.

Related News

Lara Gillespie attacks Dolomite stage as Giro hits high mountains

Video - Italy's hero Balsamo mobbed mid-stage during Giro TT

“I’m the last winner, I respect the race a lot, and I
know that the team has a lot of confidence in me; I feel ready for that."

While he also planned to the ride the Olympics, he said
he would only think of that race after the Tour was over.

"This year the Olympics will be an important race
for everyone. Everyone wants to go there with your national team,” he said of
the road race in Tokyo the weekend after the Tour finishes.

“I want to do well for Colombia. But my biggest goal will be the Tour de France," he said.

Bernal, third from left, on stage 18 to Valloire at last year's Tour; when he gained time on his rivals and moved up to 3rd overall, taking yellow the following day when the race intended to finish in Tignes was shortened as he was on the attack with Simon Yates

"I don’t want to think about two races. I’m just
focused 100 per cent on the Tour. And the Olympics will be just one week after
the Tour.

“So if I finish in good condition I’ll be there in the
Olympics. So mentally, for me, it’s better to be focused just on the Tour and
then go to the Olympics and see what happens."

He believed while the Tour had shorter climbs and less
high altitude sections, it was a climbers’ route that really suited him.